Lubricating mechanism for railway car axle



May 1, 1956 e. F. coucH 2,743,969

LUBRICATING MECHANISM FOR RAILWAY CAR AXLE Filed Jan. 22, 1951 3Sheets-Sheet 1 Inventor- Glenn F Couch FIG. 4

his Attorney May 1, 1956' G. F. COUCH 2,743,959

LUBRICATING MECHANISM FOR RAILWAY CAR AXLE Filed Jan. 22, 1951 5Sheets-Sheet 2 FIG. 3

Glenn E Couch W /3 is Attorney Inventor May 1, 1956 G. F. COUCHLUBRICATING MECHANISM FOR RAILWAY CAR AXLE Filed Jan 22, 1951 3Sheets-Sheet 3 Inventor: Glenn P. Couch his At tor ney United StatesPatent LUBRICATING MECHANISM FOR RAILWAY CAR AXLE Glenn F. Couch,Buffalo, N. Y., assignor to The Symington-Gould Corporation, Depew, N.Y., a corporation of Maryland Application January 22, 1951, Serial No.207,147

2 Claims. (Cl. 308-84) This invention pertains to a lubricatingmechanism for an axle of a railway car.

,An object of the present invention is the provision of an improvedlubricating mechanism which is so arranged and constructed that alubricant under pressure is supplied to an axle of a railway car.

Another object of the present invention is the provision of an improvedlubricating mechanism arranged to supply lubricant under pressure to abearing of a railway car axle with safety means incorporated into themechanism so that the pressure can obtain only a predetermined value.

. A further object of the present invention is the provi sion of animproved lubricating mechanism for a railway car axle with the mechanismbeing so arranged as to constantly supply lubricant under pressure tothe axle and with additional means, to afford a by-pass of lubricantwhen a predetermined pressure has been attained.

The above broad and many detailed objectsof this invention will becomeapparent to'those skilled in the art to which this invention appertainsupon a review of the succeeding detailed description of an exemplifiedform of this invention which is illustrated in the accompanyingdrawings, wherein:

Figure l is a vertical cross-sectional view of a journal box and theassociated side frame illustrating an embodiment of applicantsinvention.

Figure 2 is a front elevational view of the parts shown in Figure l withparts broken away to better reveal the construction.

Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view with the left-hand portion thereofbeing taken substantially on lines 3-3 of Figure 1 and the right-handportion thereof being taken substantially on lines 3a--3a of Figure 1,each view taken in the direction indicated by the arrows at the ends ofsaid section lines.

Figure 4 is a horizontal cross-sectional view partially in elevation,the section being taken on lines 4a-4a of Figure 1.

Figure 5 is an enlarged vertical detailed section taken on lines 5-5 ofFigure 2, the direction of view being indicated by the arrows adjacentthe ends of the section line; and

Figure 6 is a horizontal detailed section on lines 6-6 of Figure 2.

. Referring now in detail to the various figures of the drawings whereinan illustrative form of the present invention is disclosed and whereinlike reference characters indicate like parts, the numeral 1 is employedto designate, in a somewhat general manner, a lubricating mechanism foran axle for use in a railway vehicle. Forming a part of a running gearof a railway vehicle is a wheel and axle assembly only an axle '2 ofwhich is illustrated in the drawings. The axle has a portion or journal3 thereof extending into a housing comprised partly of a journal box 4and forming a part of the journal box is a roof or top wall 5 throughwhich vertical loads of the vehicle are carried to the axle. Thisjournal box illustrated is of the separable type but need not be solimited.

i this rear location. The journal box roof has at opposite sidesthereof, side walls 9 depending from the roof and conveniently providedwith indentations 10 which open upwardly and outwardly of the journalbox. Extending downwardly from the side frame web are spaced jaws 11 4which have shoulder portions 12 accommodated, in a loose fashion, by theindentations. Thus a suitable interlock is present in the journalbox-side frame association to not only keep these two components in apredetermined relationship but also afford some degree of flexibility atthis juncture. The side walls are joined together, well below the areaof the axle, by a bottom wall 13 which, together with related parts ofthe side wall, define a well or cellar 14 in which a fluid lubricant maybe contained. All of the above is by way of supporting structure whichmay be changed or altered as desired and since other details ofconstruction of the side frame particularly and the journal boxgenerally, except as hereinafter noted form no part of the presentinvention, no minute description will be herein contained but referenceis hereby made i to the various figures of the drawings for suchdetails.

Completely encircling the axle is a shell or hearing 15 made preferablyof a thin walled structure, suitably lined so as to reduce as much aspossible in such a structure, the frictional forces between the bearingand axle. Also forming an integral part of the journal box is an innercircular wall or collar 16 of such diameter as to neatly accommodate theshell. This inner wall, merging and rigid with the roof and side Walls,is of a length as viewed in Figure l, to back up substantiallycompletely the area of the shell which is in full bearing relation withthe axle and thereby not only affords adequate support for the shell butalso transmits all service loads to which the journal box is subjectedin service to the bearing.

Now it will be appreciated that a lubricant must be supplied to an innersurface 17 of the bearing to reduce the frictional load on this surfaceand thus prolong the life of the bearing. Many arrangements presentthemselves for. supplying lubricant, preferably of a fluid type, to theaxle-bearing contact area; however, a favored arrangement embodied inthe illustrated construction contemplates supplying the necessarylubricant under pressure and maintaining a constant supply to theaffected area.

Toward this end there is built into the journal box as an integral partthereof a housing or cage 18 formed by circular walls 19 upstanding fromthe bottom wall of the journal box and terminating in horizontallyspaced, vertically extending terminal flanges 20. The cage extends froma forward or leading edge 21 of the journal box toward the rear thereoffor only a short or predetermined position transversely of the journalbox or, in spaced alignment with a longitudinal axis of the axle as mostclearly viewed in Figure 2. More specifically, the pump is formed inpart by a body 23 somewhat cylindrical in configuration and as such isneatly threaded or insertable into the cage. Acting as a closure memberof the'housing to seal oif the front or access opening 24 of the journalbox is a lid or cover 25 blanketing the access opening and suitably andthoroughly bolted as at 26 to the journal box to be made a fixed partthereof. Since it is intended to maintain a fluid lubricant in thejournal box to sub stantially a level indicated by the diagrammatic line27 a full and adequate seal should be established at the journal box-lidjuncture and toward this end a sealing gasket 28 preferably of alaminated nature is interposed between the cover and journal box proper.With this association it is believed that no loss of lubricant willdevelop at the forward end of the journal box. It may be here noted thata suitable removable plug 29 is provided in the cover at a location inhorizontal alignment with the proposed lubricant level for the purposeof either inspection or the addition of lubricant to the journal box.Outstanding horizontally from the pump body is a stud or stalk 30 whichprojects through the gasket and cover to have associated therewith arotatable element or nut 31. Thus it will be noted that by thisassociation the pump may be first locked to the cover and then thisassemblage associated with the journal box. Of course, also to be notedis that by the pump body being locked to the lid, the pump will berestrained from moving or shifting longitudinally of the journal boxfrom its illustrated, fixed or predetermined position.

Forming a part of the pump is a cylinder 32 having upper and lower endportions 33 and 33a, respectively, of tubular design extending axiallyfrom a central enlargement 34 the latter of which is substantiallysquare in plan and disposed upon the pump body intermediate the terminalflanges 26]. This association of central enlargement and terminalflanges maintains the pump in an upright. or fixed position. The lowerend portion of the cylinder is press fitted into a suitable aperture 35in the pump body so as to render the cylinder a fixed part of the body.it will be here noted that the cylinder and body could, if desired, bemade as an integral or single component but it is preferred to make themseparately so that the cylinder may be of bronze and the body of castiron and thus not only reduce the cost of the pump but also extend itsservice life.

Arranged to move axially of the cylinder is a reciprocal piston orplunger 35 having a shank 37 arranged to be guidingly received neatly byand move axially in the cylinder. It is, of course, preferred to havethe diameter of the piston shank and the bore of the cylinder of suchdiameters as to have a rather close sliding fit between the piston andcylinder. The shank intermediate its ends, is provided with a relief orrecess 38 and the intermediate enlargement of the cylinder hasassociated therewith, a pin or screw 39 which extends through thecylinder to have a free inner end thereof project with the pistonrecess. or travel of the piston is limited or confined and while duringa normal travel of the piston the screw extremity will not be engaged bythe piston this arrangement is such that an abnormal travel of thepiston will be arrested. At an upper extremity of the piston or plungerthere is formed an integral head 4-9 of slightly greater diameter thanthe shank which, in effect, depends from the head.

Extending about the piston shank is a resilient element characterized bya compression spring 41 which has an upper end in subjacent relation tothe piston head and a lower end mounted upon the intermediateenlargement of the cylinder. As this compression spring is initiallystressed it functions as a force medium in urging the piston in anextended manner. Stated in another manner the spring urges the pistonoutwardly of the cylinder to from an axis 47 of the axle and thisdistance is, as-willbe hereinafter made apparent, one-half of theeffective downward movement of the pistonysee Figure l, particularly,Extending into the thimble or collar is a drive By this arrangement ofrecess and pin the throw' shaft 48 which is secured thereto by a rivet49. Mounted on the drive shaft in abutting relation with the collar isan inner raceway 50 which is surrounded by a cage or roller means 51with this last named means backed up by a circumambient outer raceway52. The inner and outer raceways with the interposed roller means formsa frictionless eccentric means driven by the axle and as will be notedan outer surface 53 of the outer raceway bears upon the piston head sothat any rotative movement of the axle will be reflected by a downwardthrust of the piston against the force of the spring 41. It has beenobserved in a commercial form of the invention herein contained that theouter raceway does not revolve during a rotary motion of the axle butrather merely rocks forth and back which is desired and intended becausethen the outer surface 53 and its companion piston head will not becomeworn in service. The reason for this non-rotary action of the outerraceway is believed to be or attributed to the fact that the frictionalforce, however slight, at the outer raceway-piston head contact is ofsufiicient value to hold the outer raceway against the motion of thefric tionless roller means.

Mounted in the pump body adjacent a lower extremity thereof is an inletvalve 54 which is spaced 2. predeter mined distance above the journalbox bottom wall due to the presence of a relief or undercut 55 formed inthe pump body. This inlet valve is preferably in axial alignment withthe piston. The inlet valve is formed in part by a valve body 56 pressfitted into the pump body to be made an integral part thereof. The valvebody has a valve seat 57 against which bears a ball or shiftable closuremember 58. In slightly spaced relation to the shift able closure member,the inlet valve body has a transverse pin 59 so as to limit movement ofthe ball away from its seat. Also extending substantially axially of thepump body there is provided a main or cross-port 60 which communicateswith the cylinder bore and the inlet valve so that upon a movement ofthe piston outwardly of the pump, fluid lubricant will be drawn into thepump or cross-port thereof through the inlet port. As will be noted, afollowing downward movement of the piston will cause the ball to bereseated, thereby leaving the crossport charged with lubricant.

The forward end of the pump body is provided with an exit or dischargevalve 61 having a valve seat 62 defining a discharge port 63 whichcommunicates with the main or cross-port. Leading from the dischargevalve is a discharge passageway 64 which opens outwardly of the pumpbody toward the journal box cover. The discharge passageway is formed bycross drillings with one of such drillings closed or sealed off by asuitable plug 65 having downstanding therefrom, a suitable finger 66which terminates a predetermined or slight distance from a displaceableelement or ball 67. This ball 67 is normally seated upon the dischargevalve seat and any unseating movement therefrom is limited by thefinger. Accordingly, assuming the cross-port charged with lubricant asabove set forth, a return or downward movement of the piston will closethe inlet port and cause the discharge port to be opened by thelubricant under pressure unseating the ball 67 to thereby allow thelubricant to be forced into the discharge passageway.

The journal box cover is provided with a canal or circular passageway 68which extends about the cover inwardly from a periphery thereof, andexcept as hereinafter noted, is sealed or blocked off by the gasket.This circular passageway therefore extends continuously in anuninterrupted manner about the cover to form a suitable lubricantconduit. The gasket has, adjacent its lower extremity, an aperture 69which affords communication between the discharge passageway andcircular passageway; see Figure 5. Accordingly, as lubricant underpressure is forced into the discharge passageway the lubricant is thenfree to enter the circular passageway.

- The journal box roof is provided with a conduit or horizontalpassageway 70 communicating with the circular passageway by reason of anopening 71 conveniently positioned in the gasket. By this arrangementtherefore the lubricant forced into the circular passageway may onlyescape therefrom into the journal box horizontal passageway. Thehorizontal passageway leads rearwardly from the forward extremity of thejournal box, and the roof of the journal box somewhat beneath the sideframe web is formed with a cored chamber 72 which is fed with lubricantby the horizontal passageway. This cored chamber extending a substantialdistance across the top of the journal box to form an adequate supplyreservoir has reentrant openings or areas 73 which, in the absence ofthe shell or bearing, would open into the journal box interior. Actuallythe reentrant openings are restrictively exposed to an outer surface ofthe shell and accordingly the shell. has formed therein a pair ofconveniently spaced access openings 74 which lead through the shelllining to reach the area of the axle. What may be considered as themouth 75 of each access opening in the bearing lining proper is extendedpreferably longitudinally of the bearing and thus an extended area oneach side of a vertical center line of the axle will be charged with thelubricant to constantly and properly and freely lubricate the contactingarea of the axle and shell.

It is to be here noted that so long as the railway vehicle is in motionthe axle is rotating and thus operating the pump. It is conceivable thatif the pump is operated over a long period of time the pressure of thelubricant in the inter-communicating passageway from the pump to theshell may greatly exceed a degree which is believed required. By way ofillustration or example only, it is thought that a pressure of twentypounds should not be exceeded in the intercommunicating passageways,however, the pump arrangement is such that it can develop a pressure farin excess of an amount believed sufficient. Accordingly, a by-pass meansis incorporated in the pump structure. Such a by-pass means ischaracterized by an escape or release valve seat 76 which is formed inthe pump body and defines an extremity of the cross port. Against thisrelease valve seat is a shiftable or displaceable element or ball 77resiliently urged by a coil spring 78. Forming a back-up for the coilspring is a cap 79 having extending axially thereof a bleed port 80 sothat any lubricant finding its way beyond the release valve will escapethrough the coil spring and bleed port to the free interior of thejournal box. Now the valve of the coil spring is such that upon thepressure in the inter-communicating passageway reaching a predeterminedvalve, such as the illustrated twenty pounds, the force of this coilspring will be overcome to allow the pumped lubricant to escape from thepump and not be dispatched through the discharge valve into thepassageway leading to the axle. Of course, when the pressure in thepassageway becomes lower than that re quired, the coil spring will keepthe ball 77 seated to permit the passageway to be charged to a desiredor redetermined degree.

From the above it will be noted that various changes and alterations maybe made to the illustrated and described construction without departingfrom the spirit of this invention or scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a lubricating mechanism, the combination with a railway car axle,a journal box and a lid closing an opening therein, of a lined bearingencircling said axle within said journal box, a pump in said journal boxand having a body secured to said lid, intercommunicating ways formed insaid lid and journal box and leading from said pump to an inner surfaceof said bearing, a reservoir in said ways, spaced intake and exhaustvalves in said pump body, a piston in said body and selectivelyoperating said valves for charging said reservoir through said ways,anti-friction means projecting from and eccentrically mounted on saidaxle for actuating said pump, and a safety valve in said pump body andseparate from said ways, said safety valve permitting escape oflubricant from said pump on attainment of a predetermined pressure insaid ways.

2. In lubricating mechanism for a railway car axle, the combination witha journal box having an access opening and a lid closing said opening,of a shell sleeved to said axle within said journal box and having anantifriction lining, an access opening extending through said shell tosaid axle, a collar integral with top and side walls of said journal boxand spaced above a bottom wall thereof, said collar completelyencircling said axle and sleeve and fixing said sleeve against radialand rotary movement relative to said journal box, a well in said journalbox underlying said collar for containing lubricant, a pump having achambered body in said well and secured to said lid, eccentric meansconnected to said axle for driving said pump, spaced intake and exhaustvalves within said pump body and leading respectively to said accessopening and well, and a regulator valve in and connected to said intakeand exhaust valves only through said pump body for regulating thepressure of the oil pump to said access opening.

References Cited in the file of this patent

